Spring-seat cushion



Nov. 13 1923-. L474 8 F. B. KING SPRING SEAT CUSHION Filed Oct. 6, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 II '5 l? I INVENTOR. ED B. HG.

/ y r J ATTORNEY Nov. 13,1923.. H v

, F. KING same SEAT CUSHION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1920 mmvron. FRED Km 7 ZTTRNEYS Patented Nov. 13, I923.

entree star FRED B. KING, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SPRING-SEAT CUSHION.

Application filed October 6, 1920.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED B. KING, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Seat Cushions. of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in spring seat cushions and more particularly to cushions for the seat backs of automobiles.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision, in a cushion having throughout most of its extent the ordinary type of coil springs. of a relatively soft edge portion obtained by the use of Marshallsprings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of the Marshall springs in a convenient separate assembly or unit which may be readily attached to-and united with the balance of the cushion.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a main or seat frame compriscross slats so constructec. at their inter- 5 sections as to bring the principal portions A of the slats into one plane while at the same time affecting as little as may be the strength of the entire structure.

Still another object is the provision of means for the attachment of the coil springs to the base frame which shall assist in hold ing the slats in proper position relative to each other.

Other objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of manufacture. will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a fragmental front elevation of a seat back cushion embodying my invention.

F igure II is a vertical section taken approximately on line IIII of Figure I, with a portion of the structure broken away.

Figure III is a fragmental detail elevation, or section on the line III-III of Figure II showing an intersection of two slats. i i

Figure IV is fragmental rear elevation of an upper corner ofthe seat cushion.

in which one of two Serial No. 414,957.

Figure V is a fragmental top plan view showing one corner of the Marshall spring unit.

Figure VI is a cross section on the line VIVI of Figure IV, showing the manner intersecting slats is offset in order to clear the other slat.

Like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views.

In the drawings, 10 refers to the relatively long horizontal slats, and 11 to the relatively short vertical slate of the main or base frame. At the points of intersection of the two series of slats, the vertical slats 11 are bent to provide forwardly extending offsets under which the long slats 10 extend with the result that the remaining portions of the two series of slats are flush with each other. The fact that the short slats 11 only contain bent portions, while the long slats 1 0 are unbent and continuous, is of advantage, as it is more important that the strength of the long slats be unimpaired by bends than in the case of the short slats. The ends of the slats 10 and 11 are secured to a border wire 12 extending entirely around the frame the fastening being ef fected preferably by the bending of the ends of the slats around the wire.

Each slat upon either side of its intersection with another slat has a struck up lip 13. the four lips at each intersection being adapted to engage the end coil of a coil spring 14 as shown particularly in Figures II and III.

The forward ends of the springs 14 are positioned with respect to each other by light wire, spiral springs 15, while the lower row and the side rows of springs 14 have their forward coils bound to a border wire 16 which surrounds three sides of the series of springs only, and has its ends terminating about half-way between the upper row i of springs and the top part of the border wire 12. The means illustrated for attaching the springs 14 to the border wire 16 consist of metal clips 17.

Along'the upper edge of the seat back I employ springs which are more easily flexed than the springsl l, which are of constant diameter and which are close togetter. These springs are encased in cloth.

A strip of cloth 18 is folded upon itself lengthwise and stitched transversely as at 1.9 so as to form pockets of proper size to receive the coil springs 20. Then the upper edges of the cloth strip are stitched together as at 21. As shown in the drawing. I prefer to employ two such strips, but a greater or a lesser number might be used without departing from the spirit of my invention. This is a well known form of spring structure which has come to be known as the Marshall spring, by which term it is referred to herein. For convenience in assembling the parts, I prefer to put these lrlarshall springs into one assembly or unit. In forming this unit, a wire frame 22 of a length to fit between the side portions of the border frame 16 is employed and this frame is enclosed in a fabric casing 23 with the one or more rows of springs 20, the casing forming a complete closure for the entire unit.

The Marshall spring assembly or unit is supported on the base frame above the top row of springs 14 by wires 24: and 25 which are fastened in place in the frame by lips 26 struck up out of the slats 11 for that purpose. The wire 25 is also fastened at its ends to the border wire 12 as shown in Figure IV. When the assembly is in place it is sewed by stitches, which include wherever possible, the lower loops of the springs 20, to the border frame 12 on the top and two sides, while at the bottom itis sewed to the slats 11 and to the top rowv of springs 14 at the same time The border wire 22 of the assemblv is sewed not only to the casing 23 and individual springs 20, but also to the side members of border wire 16 and to the outer coils of the upper row of springs 14.

The method of assembling my spring cushion will be obvious to those skilled in the art from a reading of the above description. In operation the action of the lower portion of the cushion is similar to that of other cushions now in use, but the employment of the Marshall spring unit as a finish for the upper edge of the cushion is novel so far as I am aware and has several advantages, some of which are that it makes the use of diagonal guy wires or braces unnecessary, even for the lower portion of the cushion; that it forms a soft headrest; that its springs being of equal diameter and close together present a flat upper edge surface; and that the relatively light wire in the springs enables the upholsterer to easily compress the upper outer corner of the finished cushion so as to round it off gradually and gracefully. I am aware that my invention above described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is susceptible of numerous variations without departing from the spirit Having thus described my invention,

what. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In combination, a base frame,a set V of coil springs each having one end mounted on the base frame, means for holding positioned the opposite ends of the springs including a border wire extending around three sides of the set to which the adjacent springs are attached, an elongated cushion mounted upon the frame along that side of the said set of springs which is without a border wire, said cushion having a wire frame around the top thereof, and means for attaching said wire frame to the side elements of the border wire and to the upper ends of the adjacent springs.

2 In combination, a base frame, a set of coil springs each having one end mounted on the base frame, means for holding positioned-the opposite ends of the springs including a border wire extending around three sides of the set to which the adjacent springs are attached, and an elongated cushion mounted upon the frame along that side of the said set of springs which is without a border wire, said cushion, consisting of a Marshall spring assembly and having a wire frame around the top thereof, and means for attaching said wire frame to the side elements of the border wire and to the upper ends of the adjacent springs. 7

3. In combination, a frame, a set-of coil springs each'having one end mounted on the frame, means for holding positioned the opposite ends of the springs, said frame having mounted along one edge,'a set of Marshall springs of relatively small wire, with their axes substantially parallel to the axes of the first named springs, said Marshall springs lving at all times wholly within the area bounded by said frame and constituting a part of said means for holding the free ends of the coil springs positioned.

4.. In combination, a frame. a set of coil springs each having one end mounted on the frame, means for holding positioned the opposite ends of the springs, said set of springs terminating short of one edge of the frame, and an elongated mounted upon the frame along said edge, and lying at all times wholly within the area bounded by said frame, said cushion consisting of a Marshall spring assembly having a border wire at its top periphery to which the set of coil springs is attached.

5. In combination, a frame. a set of coil springs'each having one end mounted on the frame, means for holding positioned the opposite ends of the springs comprising a border wire extending around. three sides cushion J there of t1 of, said set of springs terminating short 1e remaining edge of the frame, and

an elongated cushion mounted upon the frain the b fram e along said edge, said cushion conof a Marshall spring assembly havaround the top thereof, ottom being tied to said first mentioned e, the end portions of said Wire frame being secured to the ends of said border Wir In combination, a frame, a set of coil springs each having one end mounted on the f ra-me, means for holding positioned the opposite ends of the springs comprising a border Wire extending around three sides thereof, said set of springs terminating short of the remaining edge of the frame, and an elongated cushion mounted upon the base of the frame along said edge, said cushion consisting of a Marshall spring assembly, and means securing together the adjacent out-er edges of said set of coil springs and said Marshall spring assembly.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

FRED B. KING. 

